New Mechatronics apprenticeship program welcomes 14 new students

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WCTC officially launched its 11th apprenticeship program -- Mechatronics – kicking off the spring semester, Jan. 22. Two signing events were held the week of Jan. 15 to welcome six new apprentices from Signicast, a state-of-the-art investment castings manufacturer, and eight new apprentices from HellermannTyton, a leader in cable management and protection products, identification systems and network connectivity solutions.

The 24-credit Mechatronics Apprenticeship (Robotics and Automation) is a five-year training program of not less than 10,000 hours, including 864 hours of related technical instruction at WCTC. Mechatronics requires combined knowledge of electrical, electronic and mechanical systems, and students learn work processes such installing, repairing and maintaining equipment/devices; systems troubleshooting; operation of industrial computer and communication systems; support for automation technologies; machining; and related tasks.

For WCTC students enrolled in the Automation Systems Technology associate degree program or Industrial Maintenance Technician technical diploma program who have the opportunity to continue on in an apprenticeship, they can finish the apprenticeship quicker as the credits in their degree program apply to the apprenticeship program.